About This Template
This Child Custody Agreement template has been professionally drafted to help separated or divorced parents establish clear arrangements for the care and upbringing of their children. It provides a framework for documenting important decisions about living arrangements, visitation schedules, and parental responsibilities.
When To Use This Template
Use this template when you and your child's other parent need to establish or modify custody arrangements. This can be particularly useful:
- During separation or divorce proceedings
- When updating existing custody arrangements
- When preparing for mediation or court proceedings
- To document agreed changes to parenting arrangements
- When moving from informal to formal custody arrangements
What's Included
- Details of both parents and children
- Legal custody and decision-making responsibilities
- Physical custody and living arrangements
- Regular visitation schedule
- Holiday and special occasion arrangements
- Transportation arrangements for exchanges
- Communication between parents and with children
- Education and extracurricular activities
- Healthcare decisions and responsibilities
- Child maintenance provisions
- Dispute resolution mechanisms
- Modification procedures
How To Use This Template
Download the template in your preferred format (PDF or Word). For customisation, use the Word version and fill in all required information. Alternatively, use our online customisation tool before downloading to create a personalised version.
This document should ideally be completed by both parents together, with the assistance of a mediator or solicitors if necessary. Once completed, both parents should sign the agreement, and it's recommended to have the signatures witnessed.
The completed agreement can be submitted to the court for approval as part of divorce or separation proceedings, or it can be used as a private agreement between parents.
Legal Considerations
This template is designed to comply with current family law, but laws vary by location and change over time. We recommend reviewing the document to ensure it meets your specific needs and complies with local regulations.
Key legal considerations include:
- The child's welfare must be the paramount consideration in all arrangements
- The agreement should be practical and in the best interests of the children
- Courts may not enforce agreements that they consider contrary to a child's welfare
- Both parents should have independent legal advice before signing
- The agreement may need to be reviewed and updated as children grow and circumstances change